System, device, and method for removing a cigar binder

ABSTRACT

A system, device, and method for freaking a cigar, such as a Black &amp; Mild, is provided. The system provides a cigar and an inner binder removal tool. The inner binder removal tool effectuates the removal of the inner binder layer which is commonly found in Black &amp; Mild cigars which some users believe poses health risks. Furthermore, the method associated with the present disclosure provides an improved manner in which to freak a Black &amp; Mild over conventionally known manners which require the user to pinch the inner binder layer. Sometimes the inner binder layer is known as cancer paper in urban areas within the United States.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/191,033, filed on Aug. 27, 2015; the disclosure of which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to tools associated with cigars. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a binder removal tool to more easily “freak” a cigar.

Background Information

Many people find cigar smoking enjoyable. Moreover, many cigar smokers perceive fewer health risks associated with cigar smoking compared to cigarettes. The perceived fewer health risks may be due to the ability of a user/smoker to modify the cigar. That is, smokers of one of the most consumed cigars in the United States, Black & Mild® (13% of the US market share of large cigars and cigarillos in 2009), may engage in a modification process known colloquially as ‘freaking’ (i.e., to freak) or ‘hyping’ (i.e., to hype). Cigar product modification (CPM) involves the user's removal of the inner-reconstituted tobacco binder prior to smoking due, in large part, to the belief that this practice reduces the risk of cancer. In fact, users often refer to the binder as the ‘cancer paper’ or ‘cancer stick’.

The freaking of a Black & Mild cigar requires the user to separate the inner binder layer (i.e., the cancer paper) from the outer tobacco-based tubular layer. As is known in the art, a rolling method is typically employed to effectuate the separation therebetween. The conventional steps to freaking a Black & Mild is depicted in a collaborative study between Virginia Commonwealth University and West Virginia University entitled “How to freak a Black & Mild: a multi-study analysis of YouTube videos illustrating cigar product modification” by Nasim et al., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

However, freaking a Black & Mild cigar or another similarly fabricated cigar/cigarillo/cigarette is not without its difficulties. As is well known, once the inner binder layer is separated from the outer layer, the inner binder is removed. Conventional teachings provide that the removal of the inner binder layer is accomplished by pinching it with a user's fingernails. Alternatively, Nasim et al. also teach that tweezers may be utilized to remove the inner binder layer. However, these techniques are not always practical. For example, a user may not have sufficiently long fingernails to pinch the inner binder layer. Also, tweezers may be too wide so as to not properly grasp the inner binder layer.

SUMMARY

Thus, issues continued to exist with present known systems, devices, and methods for freaking a Black & Mild cigar or another similarly manufactured cigar. The present disclosure address these and other issues.

In one aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a system to freak a cigar comprising: a cigar including a tubular outer layer and a tubular inner binder layer defining a bore filled with tobacco; and a binder removal tool including an elongated shaft and a hooked distal end. The system may also provide that the binder removal tool includes an elongated shaft diameter that is narrower than that of the bore. The system may also provide that the binder removal tool includes a length of the elongated shaft in a range from 5 inches to 10 inches adapted to extend inside the bore when the tobacco is removed therefrom. The system may also provide that the binder removal tool includes a handle connected to the elongated shaft opposite the hooked distal end. A portion of the handle may orthogonally intersect a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated shaft. The system may also provide a mouthpiece attached to one end of the cigar, wherein the mouthpiece defines a slotted opening and the hooked distal end on the binder removal tool is sized to fit within the slotted opening. The system may also provide a first end opposite a second end on the inner binder layer; a binder length measured from the first end to the second end; and an elongated shaft length longer than the binder length adapted to enable the hooked distal end to be advanced beyond the second end of the inner binder layer. The system may also provide a hook shaft extending proximally from the distal end offset from the elongated shafted defining a gap therebetween; and wherein the inner binder layer is received in the gap and captured by the hooked distal end during binder removal.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a method comprising: providing a cigar having an outer layer and an inner binder layer filled with tobacco; removing the tobacco from the cigar; separating the outer layer from the inner binder layer; and removing the inner binder layer from within the outer layer with a binder removal tool having an elongated shaft and a hooked distal end. The method may also provide wherein the step of removing the inner binder layer is accomplished by advancing the hooked distal end beyond an inner binder layer end and catching the inner binder layer end with the hooked distal end. The method may also provide rolling the inner binder layer to a decreased diameter within the outer layer to thereby effectuate the separation therebetween; and advancing the hooked distal ending beyond an end of the inner binder layer and at least partially into a mouthpiece attached to the cigar. The method may also provide rolling the inner binder layer to a decreased diameter within the outer layer to establish a passageway between the rolled inner binder layer and the outer layer; and inserting the hooked distal end longitudinally through the passageway. The method may also provide advancing the hooked distal end out of the passageway and engaging an end of the rolled inner binder layer with the hooked distal end.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a cigar inner binder layer removal tool comprising: an elongated shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween; a hook positioned closely adjacent the distal end adapted to engage a cigar inner binder layer after tobacco has been removed from the cigar; and a handle positioned closely adjacent the proximal end adapted to be grasped by an operator to pull the hook along the longitudinal axis to remove the inner binder layer. The removal tool may also include a gap bound between the elongated shaft and a portion of the hook extending proximally from the distal end for a first linear length. The removal tool may also provide that the elongated shaft is at least four times longer than the first linear length. The removal tool may also provide that the gap has a first width narrower than a slotted opening formed in a mouthpiece on the cigar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A sample embodiment of the disclosure is set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are fully incorporated herein and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various examples, methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary system in accordance with the present disclosure having a cigar and a inner binder layer removal tool;

FIG. 2 is an operational perspective view of tobacco being removed from the cigar;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged perspective view of a first end of the cigar with the tobacco removed exposing the inner binder layer concentric with the outer layer;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged perspective view of the first end of the cigar after the inner binder layer has been rolled within the outer layer to create a passageway for the binder removal tool to pass therethrough;

FIG. 3C is an operational enlarged perspective view depicting the binder removal tool being inserted through the passageway;

FIG. 4A is an operational cross section of the binder removal tool fully advanced through the passageway and positioned in the mouthpiece of the cigar beyond the inner end of the inner binder layer;

FIG. 4B is an operational cross section view similar to that of FIG. 4A depicting the removal of the inner binder layer by a hook on the binder removal tool catching an inner end of the inner binder layer and pulling it outwardly from the first end of the cigar; and

FIG. 5 is an operational perspective view of the inner binder layer being extracted from the outer layer of the cigar.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system in accordance with the present disclosure is depicted generally at 10. The system 10 may include a cigar 12 and a binder removal tool 14. The binder removal tool 14 cooperates and engages a portion of cigar 12 to effectuate the removal of an inner binder layer from the cigar 12.

Cigar 12 may include a first end 16 opposite a second end 18 defining a longitudinal axis 20 therebetween. The cigar 12 further includes a combustible tubular outer layer 22 extending longitudinally and concentric about the longitudinal axis 20. The cigar 12 further includes an inner binder layer 24 (i.e., a binder) that is tubular in shape and concentric with the outer layer 22. Binder layer 24 (FIG. 3A) extends longitudinally concentric with longitudinal axis 20 and positioned within the outer layer 22. The inner binder layer 24 defines a bore which is filled with tobacco 26 when the cigar 12 is in its unused state. Cigar 12 may further include a mouthpiece 28 defining the second end 18 which is configured to receive an end of the outer layer 22 and the inner binder layer 24 therein so as to enable inhaled smoke from the burning cigar 12 to be fluidly pulled therethrough when inhaled by a smoker or user.

In some urban communities, the inner binder layer 24 of cigar 12 is believed to have harmful properties that can be dangerous to a user's health. The present disclosure makes no assertions of whether these beliefs are true, but rather than they merely exist. Additionally, others have noted that the inner binder layer 24 may cause the tobacco 26 to burn unevenly during the smoking process. Thus, the system 10 provides binder removal tool 14 to remove the inner binder layer 24 which will be described in greater detail below.

The removal of the inner binder layer 24 is known as “freaking” the cigar. Moreover, one specific example of cigar 12 commercially available for sale and known as a “Black & Mild” is sold by the John Middleton Company of Limerick, Pa.

In order to accomplish the inner binder layer 24 removal, the binder removal tool 14 may include a proximal end 30 opposite a distal end 32 having a first length 34 measured from proximal end 30 to distal end 32 of about 6.5 inches. Other embodiments of binder removal tool 14 may provide a first length 34 in a range from about five inches to about ten inches. However, in each scenario, a significant portion of the first length 34 associated with binder removal tool 14 is greater than the length 36 associated with cigar 12. The length 36 of a Black & Mild cigar 12 is about five inches. The length of the inner binder layer 24 is about four inches and the mouthpiece 28 is about one inch.

The greater length of tool 14 is because the binder removal tool 14 must be inserted through the bore defined by the inner binder layer 24 once the tobacco 26 has been removed in order to extract the inner binder layer 24 out from within its concentric disposition within the outer layer 22.

The binder removal tool 14, in one particular embodiment, may be a monolithic member formed from metal or another generally rigid material, such as a hardened plastic. More particularly, one exemplary embodiment utilizes stainless steel to form tool 14 as a unibody structure. This enables the tool 14 to retain its shape (describe hereinafter) during the inner binder removal process (i.e., the “freaking” process). Any metal materials known in the industry of wire formation may be utilized as one embodiment provides the tool entirely formed from a metal wired bent/formed into the desired shape. Furthermore, although tool 14 may be fabricated from metal, it may desirable to coat the metal forming tool 14 with another material. Some exemplary coatings that are contemplated to coat some portion of tool 14 could be a sprayable/dipable rubber/polymer coating (i.e., Plasti Dip®), a colored anodized metallic coating, or metal plating (e.g., chrome plating).

The binder removal tool 14 may include a handle 38 defining the proximal end 30, a hook 40 defining the distal end 32 (which may also be referred to as the hooked distal end), and an elongated shaft 42 extending between the handle 38 and the hook 40.

The elongated shaft 42 extends longitudinally in a substantially linear manner from an imaginary first plane 44 to an imaginary second plane 46. The imaginary first and second planes 44, 46 orthogonally intersect a longitudinal axis associated with the elongated shaft 42. The handle 38 is positioned entirely proximal from the imaginary first plane 44 and the hook 40 is disposed entirely distal from the imaginary second plane 46. In one particular embodiment, no other portion of binder removal tool 14 may be disposed intermediate first plane 44 and second plane 46 other than the elongated shaft 42. In one particular embodiment, the elongated shaft 42 is formed from a wire in a straightened manner such as to remove all arcuate or curved portions of the wire if fabricated from a wire sourced on a spool. When the elongated shaft 42 is a wire, it has a substantially circular transverse cross section and a diameter 48 that is in a range from about 0.01 inches to about 0.1 inches.

The hook 40 may be integrally formed with the elongated shaft 42 inasmuch as tool 14 may be a monolithic member formed from a unitary piece of material. However, for descriptive purposes portions of the tool are described below individually for clarity. In general, hook 40 may be V-shaped or U-shaped. A first portion 50 of hook 40 extends distally from imaginary second plane 46 towards an apex 52 where the hook 40 changes directions by approximately 180° and a second portion 54 of hook 40 extends proximally towards imaginary second plane 46. The hook 40 defines a gap 56 between the first portion 50 and the second portion 54 of hook 40. The first portion 50 and the second portion 54 may be generally parallel to each other such that the gap 56 has a width of about 0.3 inches near the second imaginary plane 46. However, segments of the first and second portions 50, 54 may not be exactly parallel close to the apex because a natural curve may be formed during the tool 14 formation process to properly establish apex 52. It should be noted that apex 52 is not intended to be limiting and the tool 14 may be formed with a hook having squared corners so as to eliminate an apex entirely.

In one embodiment, a free end 58 of second portion 54 terminates closely adjacent the second imaginary plane 46. Moreover, a linear length associated with the second portion 54 of hook 40 is about one inch measured from free end 58 to the apex 52. The length of elongated shaft 42 measured from first imaginary plane 44 to second imaginary plane 46 is about at least five times greater than the length associated with second portion 54 of hook 40. Thus, if second portion 54 of hook 40 is one inch, then the elongated shaft 42 between first imaginary plane 44 and second imaginary plane 46 would be at least five inches. However, other implementations would likely provide an elongated shaft length measured between imaginary first plane 44 and imaginary second plane 46 of about six inches, seven inches, or eight inches.

The handle 38 may also be formed integrally with elongated shaft 42 and is positioned entirely proximal from imaginary first plane 44. In one embodiment, the handle 38 may include a transversely extending portion 60 which orthogonally intersects a longitudinal axis associated with elongated shaft 42. However, the shape of handle 38 is not intended to be limiting and the handle 38 may take a variety of shapes as one having ordinary skill in the art would easily understand. For example, the handle 38 may include a cylindrical grip or another shapen feature. However, it is contemplated that the continued use of a formed wire to fabricate handle 38 would provide for ease of manufacturability which would ultimately reduce the cost to the end user.

In order to effectuate the extraction and removal of the inner binder layer 24 from cigar 12, the tobacco 26 must be removed from the cigar 12. This is the beginning of the “freaking” process. As depicted in FIG. 2, the first step to “freak” the cigar 12 begins with rotating the cigar 12 about its longitudinal axis back and forth in a counterclockwise direction (arrow A) and then a clockwise direction (Arrow B) while simultaneously applying pressure inwardly towards the longitudinal axis 20 as indicated by arrows 62. Typically, the process of applying pressure 62 and rotating the cigar 12 in the directions of arrow A and arrow B is accomplished by maneuvering the cigar between the palms of a user's hands and rubbing their hands in a back and forth motion. Further, the first end 16 of cigar 12 is typically pointed downwardly to utilize gravity to assist in the removal of tobacco 26 in the direction of arrow C which is parallel to longitudinal axis 20 as pressure 62 is applied and the cigar 12 is rolled in the direction of arrow A and arrow B.

FIG. 3A depicts the first end 16 of cigar 12 after all or substantially most of the tobacco 26 has been removed from the inner bore 64 defined by inner binder layer 24. When the tobacco 26 is removed, the inner binder layer 24 becomes clearly visible when viewing the first end 16 of cigar 12. As known in the art, the inner binder layer 24 may be separated from the outer layer 22 by continuing to roll cigar 12 between a user's palms or between a user's fingers in a manner similar to that identified in FIG. 2. Continuous rolling separates the inner binder layer 24 from the outer layer 22 and rolls the inner binder layer 24 to a smaller diameter roll which is indicated in FIG. 3B as resting near the bottom of the tubular outer layer 22. A small passageway 66 is defined between the inner surface of outer layer 22 and the narrowed diameter rolled inner binder layer 24.

FIG. 3C depicts the hooked distal end 40 of the binder removal tool 14 being advanced longitudinally through the passageway 66 in the direction of arrow D. Initially, the apex 52 is inserted through an opening to bore 64 at first end 16. Then, the first portion 50 and second portion 54 of hook 40 move through the opening and into passageway 66. Once the free end 58 advances past the opening to bore 64 along passageway 66, the imaginary second plane 46 may be substantially coplanar with the first end 16 of cigar 12. The insertion of elongated shaft 42 continues to move the distal end 32 of tool 14 towards the second end 18 of cigar 12 within passageway 66 inside tubular outer layer 22 parallel to axis 20.

As depicted in FIG. 4A, the distal end 32 of the binder removal tool 14 is advanced through the passageway 66 such that the free end 58 passes beyond an inner end 68 of binder layer 24 disposed within mouthpiece 28. The inner end 68 of binder layer 24 is biased towards the second end 18 of cigar 12 and is ordinarily housed within mouthpiece 28. The mouthpiece 28 may form a slotted opening 70 such that the apex 52 extends therebeyond and outwardly therefrom when the hook 40 of binder removal tool 14 is fully advanced through passageway 66 with the free end 58 positioned beyond inner end 68. When the hook 40 has been fully advanced, a portion of the elongated shaft 42 still remains in passageway 66.

The present disclosure additionally provides an alternative embodiment which accomplished the method of freaking a cigar to remove inner binder layer 24 while completely removing mouthpiece 28. In this scenario, the mouthpiece 28 may be disengaged from its weakly adhered attachment to the outer layer 22. The disengagement may occur either before or after the tobacco 26 is removed. Then, with the tubular outer layer 22 and inner binder layer 24 emptied from tobacco, the elongated shaft 42 may be passed entirely through passageway 66 and freely exit the opposite side. The hook 40 would pass entirely through the bore and be opposite the handle 38 such that the tubular outer layer 22 is suspended and supported by the elongated shaft 42 intermediate the handle 38 and the hook 40. The binder removal process may continue as described below.

FIG. 4B and FIG. 5 depict the removal and extraction of the inner binder layer 24 from cigar 12 by the user pulling the binder removal tool 14 longitudinally in the direction of arrow E which is opposite that of arrow D parallel to longitudinal axis 20. When the binder removal tool 14 is pulled outwardly in the direction of arrow E, the free end 58 of hook member 40 passes through a narrow diameter bore 72 defined by the rolled inner binder layer 24 such that the inner end 68 is caught and received by a concave surface defined by the apex 52 from its position within the outer layer 22.

The user continues to pull the tool 14 in the direction of arrow E once the hook 40 hooks, snags, or catches a portion of inner binder layer 24. The fully removed binder layer 24 is indicated in FIG. 5. Once the inner binder layer 24 has been removed (See FIG. 5), the user may then repack the outer layer 22 with tobacco 26, or tobacco mixed with other smokable/vaporizable materials, such as other plant varieties utilized for their relaxation effects. The user may then light and smoke the repacked cigar in a traditionally known manner free of any binder paper that the user believes may have undesired properties.

As used herein, the term “freaking” or “to freak” refers generally to Cigar Product Modification (CPM) and the process of removing the inner binder layer which is colloquially known as cancer paper in a majority of urban areas throughout the United States. The system 10, the binder removal tool 14, and the associated method of use thereof provide a unique solution for conventionally known problems associated with “freaking” a cigar such as a Black & Mild. Such problems typically occur when a user has difficulty removing the inner binder layer with their fingernails by pinching or using another hand tool such as a tweezer, which can often rip or tear the outer layer 22 which is clearly undesirable.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the preferred embodiment of the disclosure are an example and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

The present disclosure is respectfully submitted by United States patent attorney Howard L. Wernow who drafted the foregoing description and appended claims on behalf of the Applicant(s). 

What is claimed:
 1. A system to freak a cigar comprising: a cigar including a tubular outer layer and a tubular inner binder layer defining a bore filled with tobacco; and a binder removal tool including an elongated shaft and a hooked distal end adapted to remove the inner binder layer from the outer layer.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the binder removal tool includes an elongated shaft diameter that is narrower than that of the bore.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the binder removal tool includes a length of the elongated shaft in a range from five inches to ten inches adapted to extend inside the bore when the tobacco is removed therefrom.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the binder removal tool includes a handle connected to the elongated shaft opposite the hooked distal end.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein a portion of the handle orthogonally intersects a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated shaft.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece attached to one end of the cigar, wherein the mouthpiece defines a slotted opening and the hooked distal end on the binder removal tool is sized to fit within the slotted opening during a portion of a binder removal process.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a first end opposite a second inner end on the inner binder layer; a binder length measured from the first end to the second inner end; wherein the elongated shaft is longer than the binder length adapted to enable the hooked distal end to be advanced beyond the second end of the inner binder layer.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a portion of a hook shaft extending proximally from the distal end offset from the elongated shafted defining a gap therebetween; wherein the inner binder layer is received in the gap and captured by the hooked distal end during binder removal.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the hook shaft is in a range from 0.5 inches to 1.5 inches.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the gap is in a range from 0.1 inch to 0.4 inches.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein a portion of the hook shaft is parallel to the elongated shaft.
 12. A method comprising: providing a cigar having an outer layer and an inner binder layer filled with tobacco; removing the tobacco from the cigar; separating the outer layer from the inner binder layer; and removing the inner binder layer from within the outer layer with a binder removal tool having an elongated shaft and a hooked distal end.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of removing the inner binder layer is accomplished by advancing the hooked distal end beyond an inner binder layer end and catching the inner binder layer end with the hooked distal end.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: rolling the inner binder layer to a decreased diameter within the outer layer to thereby effectuate separation therebetween; and advancing the hooked distal end beyond an end of the inner binder layer and at least partially into a mouthpiece attached to the cigar.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: rolling the inner binder layer to a decreased diameter within the outer layer to establish a passageway between the rolled inner binder layer and the outer layer; and inserting the hooked distal end longitudinally through the passageway.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: advancing the hooked distal end out of the passageway and engaging a distal end of the rolled inner binder layer with the hooked distal end.
 17. A cigar inner binder layer removal tool comprising: an elongated shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween; and a hook positioned closely adjacent the distal end adapted to engage a cigar inner binder layer after tobacco has been removed from the cigar; and a handle positioned closely adjacent the proximal end adapted to be grasped by an operator to pull the hook along the longitudinal axis through a bore defined by the cigar to remove the inner binder layer.
 18. The cigar inner binder layer removal tool of claim 17, further comprising: a gap bound between the elongated shaft and a portion of the hook extending proximally from the distal end for a first linear length.
 19. The cigar inner binder layer removal tool of claim 18, wherein the elongated shaft is at least four times longer than the first linear length.
 20. The cigar inner binder layer removal tool of claim 18, wherein the gap has a width narrower than the bore defined by the cigar. 